Finland Joins Methane to Markets Partnership

Finland is the latest country to join the Methane to Markets Partnership, sharing its expertise in the fight against climate change, according to a July 23 press release.

The partnership, now 26 members strong, aims to reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and clean energy source.

Finland is reducing methane emissions by encouraging farmers to recover and use methane and by installing biogas recovery units on 33 of the nation's landfills. The Finnish government is providing grants that cover some of the costs of these domestic projects as well as funding projects overseas in nations like Honduras and Nicaragua.

"Our nation is one of the world pioneers in the capture and the utilization of biogases from landfills and agriculture," said Pekka Lintu, Finland's ambassador to the United States. "Our companies have developed new technologies and gained expertise in methane utilization projects not only domestically but also around the world. The Methane to Markets Partnership offers an important new networking facility to Finnish companies and experts."

Finland plans to serve on the Methane to Markets technical subcommittees for the landfill and agricultural sectors.

Methane is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere at a rate more than 20 times higher than carbon dioxide. In addition, methane is a primary constituent of natural gas and an important energy source. Efforts to prevent or utilize methane emissions can provide significant energy, economic and environmental benefits.

For more information, visit the Methane to Markets Web site at http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets.